diff --git a/drivers/vfio/mdev/mdev_sysfs.c b/drivers/vfio/mdev/mdev_sysfs.c
index 7570c7602ab4..f32c582611eb 100644
--- a/drivers/vfio/mdev/mdev_sysfs.c
+++ b/drivers/vfio/mdev/mdev_sysfs.c
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ static struct mdev_type *add_mdev_supported_type(struct mdev_parent *parent,
 				   "%s-%s", dev_driver_string(parent->dev),
 				   group->name);
 	if (ret) {
-		kfree(type);
+		kobject_put(&type->kobj);
 		return ERR_PTR(ret);
 	}